ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res.

12(03), 754-763

Journal Homepage: - www.journalijar.com

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/18450

DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/18450

RESEARCH ARTICLE
SCREW DRUM STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS ANALYSIS ON PROPULSION PERFORMANCE
IMPACT

Xuhan Zhang1, Bingnan Xing2, Jiandong Gao3 and Wenxin Yang4

1. Shenyang Ligong University School of Mechanical Engineering, Shenyang, Liaoning 110159, China.
2. Chongqing Chang'an Wangjiang Industrial Group Co., Ltd. Nanjing Innovation Center，Nanjing, Jiangsu,
210014 China.
3. School Of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University Of Science & Technology Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094
China.
4. Shenyang Ligong University School of Mechanical Engineering, Shenyang, Liaoning 110159, China.
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Manuscript Info Abstract
……………………. ………………………………………………………………
Manuscript History Screw propeller can perform engineering operations in complex
Received: 22 January 2024 environments and have a wide range of applications. To improve its
Final Accepted: 24 February 2024 operational efficiency, it is necessary to analyze the influence of the
Published: March 2024
parameters of the screw drum on the performance indicators of the
operation, in order to confirm the structural parameters under the
Key words:-
Screw Propeller, Locomotion optimal operational efficiency. By coupling the Discrete Element
Performance, Discrete Element and Method (DEM) with RecurDyn, the simulation of the locomotion
Multibody Dynamics Coupled process of a screw propulsion mechanism in a sand environment is
Simulation
conducted. Output results such as travel speed, maximum traction
force, and maximum torque are measured. Through computation,
performance indicators including slip ratio, traction coefficient, and
dimensionless power can be obtained. By coupling the Discrete
Element Method (DEM) with RecurDyn, the simulation of the
locomotion process of a screw propulsion mechanism in a sand
environment is conducted. Output results such as actual speed,
maximum traction force, and maximum torque are measured. Through
computation, performance indicators including slip ratio, traction
coefficient, and dimensionless power can be obtained. Analyzing the
numerical indicators of the propulsion system, it is determined that the
optimal structural parameters for the screw propulsion mechanism to
operate in a sand environment are a helix angle of 40°, aspect ratio of 4,
blade height ratio of 0.15, and the number of blades of 4.

Copy Right, IJAR, 2024,. All rights reserved.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………....
Introduction:-
With the development and advancement of technology, people are further exploring nature and discovering
abundant fishery and mineral resources in the intertidal environment. To exploit these resources, factories need
industrial machinery that can operate normally in complex environments. Conventional industrial machinery
typically relies on wheeled or tracked propulsion mechanisms as power sources. However, in such environments,
these two propulsion mechanisms are prone to sinking, leading to a loss of mobility. The screw propeller can
address the issue of industrial machinery losing mobility on beaches and tidal flats, serving as a specialized

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Corresponding Author:- Xuhan Zhang
Address:- Shenyang Ligong University School of Mechanical Engineering, Shenyang,
Liaoning 110159, China.
ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 12(03), 754-763

locomotion mechanism commonly utilized in fluidic mediums. Compared to conventional wheel propulsion
mechanisms, the screw propeller features a higher ground pressure ratio 1and strong adaptability to the
environment2, making it suitable for use in harsh environments such as beaches and marshes. The screw propulsion
mechanism achieves forward propulsion by reversing the rotation of a pair of helical drums underneath the chassis,
rotating in opposite directions. To steer, the drums need to rotate differentially3.

Due to the special locomotion and structural characteristics of the screw propeller, it is commonly applied in fields
such as agriculture4 and beach rescue. The screw propeller was first applied to ground mobile machinery by Jacob
Morath5. James and Ira Peavey6 first used a screw-propelled vehicle for logging and transportation of timber in
mountainous areas in 1907. The earliest application of this type of mechanical structure in China was the hydroponic
machine developed by Liu Mingxiang7 in 1987. In the same year, Fan Qizhou8 conducted thrust calculation and
experiments on the screw propeller in driving in clay medium. Andrew Thoesen9 conducted a detailed analysis of
the thrust of the screw propeller in granular media. By comparing simulations with experiments, he demonstrated
that the spiral propulsion mechanism can accomplish challenging tasks.

Research Subject:-
This paper focuses on the effect of changing the structural parameters of the screw drum on the propulsion
performance of the screw propeller. By using numerical simulation techniques to measure data during the movement
of different structural drums, the study aims to optimize the drum structure to improve propulsion efficiency. The
schematic diagram of screw propeller is shown in Figure (1).

Figure 1:- Screw Propeller.

The performance indicators will be affected by the structural parameters such as the helix angle, aspect ratio, blade
height ratio, and number of blades of the propeller. The helix angle affects the shape of the propeller blade, the
aspect ratio is the ratio of the diameter of the propeller to its effective length, the blade height ratio is the ratio of the
blade height to the propeller diameter, and the number of blades is the quantity of blades on one side of the
propeller.

The performance indicators for a screw propeller include slip ratio, non-dimensional power, traction coefficient, and
bumpiness. When a helical propulsion mechanism travels through a fluid environment, the actual velocity may be
lower than the theoretical velocity. The indicator used to measure this phenomenon is the slip ratio (sx), where a
higher slip ratio at the same theoretical velocity indicates a lower actual velocity. The expression for the slip ratio10
is:
vT - v A
sx =
vT （1）
Where vT is theoretical speed and vA is actual speed.

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The dimensionless power, denoted as ( y ), is used to measure the minimum power required for propulsion. A
smaller dimensionless power ensures a greater distance traveled with the same amount of energy. The expression for
the dimensionless power11 is:
2πnT
y
WvT （2）
Where n is rotation speed，T is maximum torque and W is Gravitational direction load.

The traction coefficient, denoted as ( K ), is the ratio of the traction force to the mass load. All other conditions
being equal, a higher traction coefficient leads to better traction performance. The expression for the traction
coefficient 12is:
Dp
K
W （3）
Where Dp is Maximum traction

The bumpiness, denoted as ( S2 ), is used to measure the roughness level during the operation of the propulsion
mechanism. Its expression is:

S 2

 m
（H i - H A）
i=1

m （4）

Where m is Analysis steps, Hi is the horizontal height of the propulsion mechanism at the i-th analysis step and HA
is the average horizontal height of the propulsion mechanism

Simulation Analysis of Screw Drum Movement

Through the coupling simulation of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) software EDEM and the Multibody
Dynamics (MBD) software RecurDyn, EDEM calculates the force and motion of sand grains when the screw
propeller advances, while RecurDyn calculates the force and motion of the screw propulsion mechanism during
advancement. The obtained data is then analyzed to evaluate the advancement effect. Simulation process is shown in
Figure 2.

Figure 2:- Simulation Process.

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Material properties are shown in Table 1, and contact parameters are shown in Table 2. The simulation domain
ranges from 900mm*400mm*260mm, with a particle diameter of 3.5mm13 and a particle layer thickness of 80mm.

Table 1:- Material parameters.

Name Poisson’s ratio Shear Modulus（pa） Density
（kg/m3）
Sand 0.3 1*108 2650
TC4 0.25 4.082*1010 4850
Box 0.25 1*1010 2500

Table 2:- Interaction.

Name Cofficient of restitution
Cofficient of Static Cofficient of Rolling
Friction Friction
Sand -Sand 0.6 0.53 0.08
TC4-Sand 0.6 0.45 0.05
Box-Sand 0.3 0.75 0.05
The simulation experiment numbers and corresponding parameters of the spiral drum are shown in Table 3.

Table 3:- Experimental Content.

Experiment Number Helix Angle Aspect Ratio Blade Height Ratio Number of Blades
1 25° 4 0.1 2
2 30° 4 0.1 2
3 35° 4 0.1 2
4 40° 4 0.1 2
5 45° 4 0.1 2
6 30° 4 0.05 2
7 30° 4 0.15 2
8 30° 4 0.2 2
9 30° 4 0.25 2
10 30° 3 0.1 2
11 30° 3.5 0.1 2
12 30° 4.5 0.1 2
13 30° 5 0.1 2
14 30° 4 0.1 1
15 30° 4 0.1 3
16 30° 4 0.1 4
17 30° 4 0.1 5
By simulating with models 1 to 5, the influence of helix angle on the mechanical locomotion effect can be obtained;
by simulating with models 2, 6 to 9, the influence of blade height ratio on the mechanical locomotion effect can be
obtained; by simulating with models 2, 10 to 13, the influence of aspect ratio on the mechanical locomotion effect
can be obtained; by simulating with models 2, 14 to 17, the influence of number of blades on the mechanical
locomotion effect can be obtained.

The coupled simulation process is illustrated in Figure 3. Figure 3(a) shows the initial state of the simulation, where
the screw propeller is positioned above the granular environment, and the drum is not rotating. Figure 3(b) depicts
the screw propeller falling onto the sand particles under the influence of gravity. Figure 3(c) shows the beginning of
rotation of the screw drum, resulting in forward movement of the entire mechanism. Figure 3(d) represents the
completion of the simulation.

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(a) t=0s

(b) t=0.1s

(c) t=2s

(d) t=3s
Figure 3:- Simulation results.

Coupled Simulation Results Analysis

Helix Angle on Propulsion Effect Influence
As the helix angle increases, the pitch of the drum also increases, resulting in a theoretical increase in speed at the
same rotational speed. The simulation results are shown in Table 4.
Table 4:- Simulation Results of Helix Angle Variation.
Helix Angle Slip ratio Traction coefficient Dimensionless power Bumpiness
25° 32% 0.21 0.70 1.27
30° 39% 0.33 1.53 2.26
35° 43% 0.27 1.01 1.20
40° 64% 0.65 1.02 2.20
45° 53% 0.25 0.90 2.73

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To obtain a clearer trend of changes, figure 4 is generated based on Table 4. As the helix angle increases, all
measurement indicators except for the dimensionless power show an increasing trend. The dimensionless power is
in a stable state at a helix angle of 35°~45°, with relatively low numerical values. Although increasing the helix
angle results in a more pronounced increase in slip ratio, it also leads to an increase in lead, significantly boosting
theoretical speed. Therefore, under the same rotational speed, increasing the helix angle does not cause a decrease in
traveling speed. raction coefficient is used to measure the magnitude of traction force, mainly generated by cutting
and squeezing sand particles by helical drum blades. It is a significant indicator, reaching its maximum value when
the helix angle is 40°. The variation in bumpiness is quite pronounced, but it is kept within a relatively small range.
After comprehensive analysis, it can be determined that the pushing effect of the spiral drum is optimal when the
spiral angle is 40 degrees.

Figure 4:- Simulation Results of Helix Angle Variation.

Aspect Ratio on Propulsion Effect Influence

When the aspect ratio changes, the drum diameter changes accordingly, and important structural parameters such as
fan blade height and pitch based on the drum diameter will also change. The simulation results are shown in Table 5.
Table 5:- Simulation Results of Aspect Ratio Variation.
Aspect Ratio Slip ratio Traction coefficient Dimensionless power Bumpiness
3 41% 0.23 1.10 3.29
3.5 38% 0.23 0.99 1.63
4 39% 0.33 1.53 2.26
4.5 41% 0.24 0.95 0.68
5 44% 0.21 3.22 1.10

To obtain a clearer trend of changes, figure 5 is generated based on Table 5. It can be observed intuitively that the
slip ratio and traction coefficient have not undergone significant changes,that means the aspect ratio has a minimal
impact on the conversion rate and traction coefficient. As the aspect ratio increases and the drum diameter decreases,
the dimensionless power rises significantly within a certain range, leading to an increase in the required propulsion
power; however, the bumpiness decreases slightly. The reason for this phenomenon is that as the drum diameter
decreases, the contact area between the drum and the sand particles also decreases. As a result, the overall

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propulsion mechanism descends, similar to a ship sailing in the ocean where a deeper draft can provide greater
stability. When the aspect ratio is 4.5, the locomotion performance is better.

Figure 5:- Simulation Results of Aspect Ratio Variation.

Blade Height Ratio on Propulsion Effect Influence

The blade height ratio to drum diameter is a structural parameter that measures the height of the rolling fan blade
based on the drum diameter, but larger fan blades are not necessarily better. The simulation results are shown in
Table 6.
Table 6:- Simulation Results of Blade Height Ratio Variation.
Blade Height Slip ratio Traction coefficient Dimensionless power Bumpiness
Ratio
0.05 62% 0.45 1.21 1.74
0.1 39% 0.33 1.53 2.26
0.15 32% 0.35 0.93 2.98
0.2 31% 0.27 1.14 1.71
0.25 34% 0.37 2.04 0.67

Through Table 6, it can be seen from Figure 6 that as the blade height ratio increases, the slip ratio and
dimensionless power exhibit a trend of initially decreasing and then increasing; the bumpiness shows a trend of
initially increasing and then decreasing; the traction coefficient can also be roughly regarded as initially decreasing
and then increasing, but it is relatively high when the blade height ratio is 0.15; through comprehensive analysis of
the performance indicators, it is determined that the blade height ratio of 0.15 yields better propulsion performance.

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Figure 6:- Simulation Results of Blade Height Ratio Variation.

Number of Blades on Propulsion Effect Influence

When the number of fan blades changes, the spacing between adjacent blades also changes accordingly, leading to
variations in the complexity of sand movement and thus affecting the propulsion efficiency. The simulation results
are shown in Table 7.

Table 7:- Simulation Results of Number of Blades Variation.

Number of Slip ratio Traction coefficient Dimensionless power Bumpiness
Blades
1 67% 0.23 0.67 3.25
2 39% 0.33 1.53 2.26
3 37% 0.34 0.84 0.75
4 31% 0.38 1.03 0.98
5 30% 0.71 2.45 0.23
Through Table 7, it can be observed from Figure 7 that as the number of blades increases, both the slip ratio and
bumpiness intensity decrease significantly, while the traction coefficient increases noticeably. However, there is no
obvious contrasting trend between the dimensionless power variation and the increase in the number of blades. In
order to ensure relatively small dimensionless power with a higher traction coefficient and smooth propulsion
process, the optimal number of blades is determined to be 4.

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Figure 7:- Simulation Results of Number of Blades Variation.

Conclusion:-
The screw propulsion mechanism can travel normally in sandy environments, and as the drum rotates, particles will
accumulate towards the surface of the drum in the direction of rotation.

When the structural parameters of the drum are changed, the efficiency of the screw propulsion mechanism changes
significantly. To ensure that the propulsion mechanism has lower slip ratio, dimensionless power, roughness, and
higher traction coefficient, the helix angle is set to 40°, the aspect ratio is 4, the blade height ratio is 0.15, and the
number of blades is 4.

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